Current Initatives

Mobile Command and Communications Center

The OPD is seeking funding for a much needed Mobile Command and Communications Center. This vehicle will be utilized in the most critically sensitive operations including barricade situations, officer involved shooting scenes, and homicide scenes. The center will be designed and engineered to house command officers, support staff and crisis negotiators and will be used during emergencies, major natural disasters, as well as high-traffic events where OPD maintains crowd control, such as the College World Series, Septemberfest, El Grito Festival, Cinco De Mayo, as well as other events such as the NCAA basketball and volleyball tournaments, the USA Swim Trials, and Senior Open Golf tournaments.

The current OPD Mobile Command Center, which is utilized dozens of times each year, is 17 years in age. The technology contained within is outdated, and the space is no longer feasible for the number and nature of events serviced.

There are 5 major components to the Mobile Command and Communications Center, which include the truck, radios, computers, remote cameras and a negotiator’s throw phone.

The new Mobile Command and Communications Center command will have three separate work areas;

• A front area that will be able to house one workstation and 6 officers with conference table, equipment rack and storage cabinets

• A center area with portable radio charging, adjustable shelves, galley, restroom and three workstations with upper and lower storage

• A rear area with three sit-down workstations with lower storage, two stand-up workstations with upper and lower storage cabinets, and two electronic racks.

The expected cost of this new piece of equipment is $802,000.

Mobile Crime Lab – PURCHASED

The Omaha Police Foundation is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its fundraising initiative for the Mobile Crime Lab. This important piece of equipment has been ordered and will be delivered later this spring.

This vehicle will enable OPD officers to process evidence found at crime scenes faster and more efficiently. The desired vehicle is a Sirchie Model MCL-550/18F Heavy Duty Mobile Crime Lab. The cost is $194,510.

This heavy-duty mobile crime lab has a large, 18-foot workspace and a wide range of lab capabilities. It will enable many forensic analyses to be conducted on scene, providing investigators with more timely results and potential leads. It also provides a controlled climate work environment that is out of public view and conducive to better scene processing. This vehicle is especially valuable during inclement weather, or at scenes that require several days to fully process.

Another advantage of the mobile crime lab is that it can reach inaccessible locations where discarded bodies or clandestine crime scenes are often found. It contains secure, on-site storage lockers for collected evidence. In addition, the mobile crime lab’s plain-view storage system provides better preparedness and reduces the potential for contamination.

The advantage of having this vehicle available at crime scenes has been proven in the field. In fact, OPD is currently one of only a handful of departments serving similar size communities without a mobile crime lab. We truly believe this vehicle will quickly become an invaluable asset to OPD, and our entire city.